Summer solstice, rainbow, and beyond!

So, the last several weeks since my stay in the Jemez mountains have been very fruitful.

After the fire @ Casey's land, I went and stayed in Taos for two weeks, working at a farm at the Hanuman temple, meeting lots of good folks, eating well, and grounding intensely. I finished covering the head of the djembe I started back in March, sewed up 2 pairs of shoes (one of which is lost to me now), and got lots of good rest, physically & psychologically. I had a little money to spend while I was there, and decided to invest in a copy of the Tao Te Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell. This really helped me to re-contextualize my intentions for this blog and my life in general, which I will come back to in a moment. For a now, a brief summary of adventures and doings.

After my Taos tenure I went to a yoga retreat up in the Jemez mountains near Espanola, NM. I was on the set up crew for the retreat, so I was there for 10 days before the retreat began. It was quite nice to be able to get to know so many wonderful people, connect to the land, and have a little peace and tranquility before 2000 people showed up. It was at this retreat that I decided I would complete a yoga teacher training as soon as possible, and thanks to a gracious donation from a very good friend I met there (Ms. Monique Decker from Luxembourg, a veritable angel), I will be beginning my training starting July 16th in Nevada City, CA.

After the retreat ended July 28th, I headed to the Santa Fe National forest for the 2009 National Rainbow Gathering. If you aren't familiar with the Rainbow phenomenon, check online through wikipedia or a like source for deep details. For now, I'll just say that it is a family not connected by blood, race, ethnicity, or creed, but rather by the universal commitment to world peace through creative/alternative lifestyles and community. The "Rainbow Tribe" has been gathering all over the world for about 40 years now.

The gathering was quite a wonderful experience for me. I worked at a raw food kitchen (which is convenient, as I started a raw food cleanse/diet (Live-it) around June 18th at the beginning of the yoga retreat), took nature walks collecting wild edibles, played lots of music, did a lot of walking, bathed in a nice creek, and just soaked in the peace of the mountain atmosphere. I met so many amazing people, and connected with two fellas, Dean & Chris, who are also on there way to CA. I write right now from Sedona, Arizona, and the three of us will soon make our way towards Nevada City. We have been munching on greens we collecting in the mountains for 2 days now, really just taking our time to enjoy the trip to CA.

And now, back to the Tao Te Ching... Buying a copy of the Tao in Taos (go figure Tao-s), as well as talking to several people about the book/philosophy/way of being, as well as many experiences I've had since Feb. have given me a lot of clarity about my original intentions for this website, and the ways in which I can activate the wisdom gained from this blog, the Tao, and my life in general.

Here are some brief insights that I am beginning to integrate on a day to day basis:

The world is perfect. People have lots of ideas and concepts about the how lost we are, how are ecological systems are spiraling out of control, how darkness has fallen over humanity, etc. And that's all very fine and nice for them. But I no longer want to live my life through ideas about the way things are. More and more I am beginning to feel that people's (or my own) judgements about the conditions of external reality have in fact, nothing at all to do with the external world, but are merely a reflection of the reality of each individual, projected onto the "external world."

When people say that George Bush was an insane president, or gay people shouldn't be aloud to get married (side note: should/need to/have to are in the process of being eliminated from my vocabulary), or that pizza tastes really good/bad/fluffy, it has nothing to do with reality as it truly is, and has everything to do with the stories people are addicted to telling about the world around them. The judgement that GB is insane is only reflecting the inner insanity of the judge. The judgement that gay people shouldn't get married is only reflecting the fears/homophobia/discomfort of the judge. Good/bad/fluffy tasting pizza isn't in the pizza, it's in the person eating the pizza.

These are my feelings. This is the reality I would like to embody. It's okay to eat pizza and just be eating pizza, being present with the pizza, appreciating each flavor and bite without trying to figure out the meaning of pizza, or attach ideas to pizza. It's okay to observe Bush and then go on about one's day without a thought about how _______ he is and how X person would do ____ & _____ in a much more ______ way.

I've related to the world around me most of my life through ideas/ideology/conceptual thinking. I suspect the same is true for many others as well. Well I'm done with it I tell ya! Pizza is pizza. Pizza is. George Bush is as real to me as Darth Vader. He's just a character in a story that I've seen on TV a lot. He really made people lose their center, lose their peace. Yet like me, very few people had any real, first hand experience of GB. They just related to the idea of him as portrayed through media coverage. GB just is. He isn't good or bad or any one thing. He's always in a state of change, in a constant flux. Why would we try to pin him down with qualifiers?

I've written a lot already in this blog posting, and there will be another posting very soon to be sure. I have a lot more to say about the ways the Tao has begun to shape my life, and the experiences and journeys that have been highly influential to me in these last months. For now, I will say that I hope for people to realize all the things in their own reality that are blocking the flow of serenity.

The Universe is always changing in a beautiful dance of experience. There are many ways we can relate to the dance. All of them are perfect, and each individual can choose their favorite way at any point and time. We haven't done anything wrong--not one of us. Things arise and things pass. People kill people, people help people, dogs chase cats, hurricanes happen, buildings collapse. All of it is just perfect, right where it needs to be at all times. See the perfection within & the perfection without will necessarily unfold. I love you all!

Forest fired pottery.

So, I have been up in the Jemez mountains for the last few weeks, creating gardens, working on various building projects, doing sweat lodges, and so on. I met a really nice Belgian fellow named Victor at the Return of the Elders gathering, and through him met Casey, he that is connecting me to the Jemez. Casey has about 20 acres @ 8500 ft, and is working on establishing a Jedi training art school thingy. It's pretty neat. He wants to eventually have a self-sustaining system, a library, ceremonial space, and the whole shabang. I'm excited!

We've been cooking lots of great meals, doing yoga, relaxing, working gardens, reading and writing, watching sun sets, soaking at local hot springs, and so on. It's been lovely.

3 nights ago Casey fired some pottery in a big metal barrel. We watched the coals burn down, and then went to bed. We awoke the next day, and just went through are usual routine. Sunrise, breakfast, garden work, etc. Around noon I was working on the garden by myself, and noticed that over where we had been firing pottery, there was a very large fire.

"Huh!?! That's funny, what are Victor and Casey doing over there?" I thought.

It only took me a moment longer to realize that the very large fire was not intentional whatsoever. I immediately began yellling for help, grabbed two shovels, and ran towards the fire. Casey and Victor walked out of the cabin, I threw Victor a shovel, and we went to work!

We began digging all around the fire to contain it's rage. Casey drove down the mountain to call the fire department (we didn't have a phone), and Victor and I battled on. I dug non-stop for about 1 hour. Then Casey returned and took my spot. Victor and I grabbed some water, and then went back to work. We continued to dig and contain for another 30 minutes, when the fire department finally showed. By then most of the perimeter had been established. We stopped the fire at the property line between Casey's placed and the neighbors.

We were very relieved to not have burned the mountain down! Victor and Casey got some pretty wicked 2nd degree bubbly burns, and we all inhaled more smoke than we would have liked. I have a pretty gnarly stigmata looking crispy blister on my hand from the shovel and the heat, and we all have the memory of the intensity-the heat, the smoke, the feelings of helplessness and eventually transcendance. Whoa!

This is probably about the most raw, visceral, elemental experience I've ever had. I don't think I was afraid for a second. There was certainly no hesitation. But the power that the fire had was overwhelming, humbling, a force to be reckoned with. I still have so much to integrate from this experience. And have a new found respect from anyone caught in such a situation. Be it fire, hurricane, tornado, earthquake. If we do not respect the natural forces that surround us, we beckon an encounter that may leave us changed forever@!

I hope to write more of this experience when I've put it all together.

For now, I love you all! Take care.

Return of the Ancestors gathering & more

Well hello again my friends. The last month has been a wave of experience that carried me to many amazing places with so much to be learned, and so many wonderful people to enjoy.

I finished up my drum carving project at Gemini farm at the beginning of April, and soon after made my way to Sedona, Arizona for the Return of the Ancestors gathering. I didn't exactly "have money" or "know anyone," but my surrender to the guidance I felt to be there led me to some amazing people, and I was well taken care of. Some Quebecians took me in from the beginning, so I had a great group to camp & counsel with for me tenure at the event.

The premise of the gathering was to unite native/indigenous elders from all over the world so they could share their prayers and visions for the turbulent changes that are sweeping through the world, as well as to simply share traditional wisdom and ceremonial space. I must say it was quite a learning experience! I would also add that the majority of my personal growth came not directly from the scheduled gathering events, but rather from the youth counsels and collective interactions that were held outside the gathering. I was amazed at the multitude of open-hearted souls I met throughout the event, and can't express the gratitude I feel for all the music, food, and conversation I shared over these past weeks.

I would say one of the highlights of the adventure was a sunrise ceremony at the Grand Canyon. A couple hundred people gathered at a GC lookout with drums, shakers, and all sorts of wonderful magic, and we sang and danced and played as the sun rose over the horizon. It was marvelous! It made me wonder why I don't have a sunrise/set ceremony every day. It is, afterall, one of the most universal occurences of the planet. And an amazing way to dial into natural rhythms day by day. Yes, I will seek to manifest this vision of shared daily sunrise ceremony. Waking and feeling the heat on my face and expressing the joy through song and dance. And then walking away with the whole day ahead of me, bright and full to be sure. Yes, I will do it. We will do it.

Spoonality

Spring is emerging in Northern New Mexico. The mountain snow is melting away. No longer is the breaking of ice necessary for morning creek dips. I've moved into a casita on the farm, and am enjoying the atmosphere as always. I just spent a few days in Ojo Caliente, near Taos, helping a friend and a seasonal worker of the farm (really a member/partner) Brett do some work on his house in the desert. Me, Brett, and Kosma did a whole lot of digging, mud mixing, and adobe brick laying. And as always enjoyed delicious food and music. After day 1 of digging we visited the hot mineral springs near Ojo to soak our bones and revitalize our souls. We dipped in hot arsenic and iron baths, sat in the sauna, and drank lithium water. Upon leaving I felt rejuvenated! What a place.

An activity I've steeped myself in as of late has led me to some interesting thoughts about life. The boys on the farm are firm believers in self-reliance, and as such go as far as to carve up all their own utinsils. So spoon carving is often a winter ritual that one and all enjoys.

Since I've been on the farm I've busted out about 6 or 7 spoons, and am beginning to try and develop my own taste and style. I like to go with the grain of whatever wood I'm working with, and see what shapes emerge from the way the wood runs naturally. The last spoon I carved included stylized designs on the handle--twisting and turning rounded curves. I was pleased with the result.

Whilst carving, observing, and talking with people on the farm about spoons, I have had some realizations about reality, or spoonality, if you will. Teague likes to sand his spoons down, and can really hammer one out with speed and efficiency. He told me he has observed a lot of metal spoons, and appreciates the superior feminine physique that sanding gives a spoon. Kosma never sands his spoon, as he feels the sand paper is rubbing in a bunch of chemicles to a device that will be put in your mouth again and again. So when he approaches a nearly finished product, he likes to make tiny little cuts with his pocket knife that are tantamount to sanding. A cook at a buddhist monastery in southern Colorado visited last week, and when I showed him a recent product of mine, he said "Very nice, except it looks like you could go a little deeper on the spoon part."

In short, everyone carves their spoons a certain way, appreciates a certain aesthetic, and thinks that this or that is a prerequisite for a fine spoon. I have received lots of feedback, instruction, criticism, and advice, all of which have been greatly appreciated. I hold a deep respect for teachers and have no problem amending the way I think or do things if it means greater health and wealth for myself and others.

But if there is anything I've learned from the experience thus far, its not what my spoons should look like or how it should be done. Its that everything I've been told reflects each individual's unique spoonality. When it comes down to it, my spoon doesn't have to look any certain way, or even be functional. I can do whatever I want, & there is really no way for me to possibly do wrong as long as I appreciate the final product and enjoyed the process. Surely I can take something from each experience? I certainly don't have to hold a single preconceived notion for each spoon carving project. If I want to do things fast, I'll go out back with the hatchet and get my spoon as close to the finished product as I possibly can. If I want to have a smooth, flowing final product, I will sand it down to a nice finish. If want to give it a hand carved look, I will leave all the little whittles in place.

But ultimately, I can create my own spoonality. Each spoon carving project can be done a different way. I can be as consistent or inconsistent as I like, have as rough or splintery or wide or small or whatever as I want! The possibilities are endless. Each spoon stave holds a unique treasure waiting to emerge from its spoon cacoon. I wonder what I'll create next?

So remember to respect teachers, but beware of words that dictate rigid structure. Every day you can create what you feel matches the energy of the day best. People's words are mirrors for their own spoonality. Why not carve your own?

Grounded in New Mexico

So my journey to New Mexico has proved to be a fruitfull one. I rendezvoused with my dear friends Ryan & Felicja (of Williams Island Farm in Chattanooga, TN) in Santa Fe about 2 weeks ago. They had both been in California for the winter, and were headed back towards the Island for the 2009 growing season. Felicja was born & raised in Santa Fe, so it was nice to be introduced to Santa Fe & various parts of northern New Mexico with such grace and fluidity.

We spent a few days in the Santa Fe area hanging low, and then ventured to Felicja's brothers' farm in Las Trampas, NM, between Taos and Santa Fe.

And what an amazing place it is!

Felicja's bros Teague & Kosma started the farm about 6 years ago, and it has been thriving ever since. When Teague graduated from Tufts University and Kosma from highschool, they both decided they wanted to connect with the land and provide their hometown with local produce. So they decided that the best way to do so would be to dive right into the dirt & start their own project. They lease the land from a friend of theirs in the moutains of northern New Mexico, right on the border of the Pecos Wilderness. The 7 acre farm sits at about 7500 feet, so it stays snowy about 6 months out of the year. They tell me that the Trampas area has been known to receive snow in the middle of June, so the microclimate is specific to say the least. They discoverd very early on that root veggies like carrots, beets, parsnips, and potatoes thrive wonderfully with the warm days & cold nights, so they are certainly a mainstay on the farm. But they also have green houses for warmer climate crops like tomatoes & peppers, and for winter greens. Even now we are enjoying fresh arrugla salads, as well as kale and cilantro.

Teague, Kosma, and their recent farm cohort Brett welcomed us warmly into their adobe home. After spending a few days there playing music, eating out of the root cellar,working with the goats, and taking the donkeys for rides into the mountains, we had a sweat lodge ceremony to commemorate the full moon and bring us all closer together.

The sweat lodge tradition has been handed down from Native American cultures like the Lakota people as a purification ritual. Teague, Kosma, and Felicja had been introduced to the practice at a young age through their father, an avid collector and dealer of Native American art & active supporter of various Native American organizations. The quickest way to describe the sweat lodge would be to imagine the combination of a fast, a sauna, and thanksgiving (Though I don't believe such a description does the experience much justice, nor does it capture its transformative force).

The lodge is basically a structure made out of Willow saplings that are bent into a dome-like shape and covered with blankets. It represents both the body of a turtle (with the head being a small alter in front of the door), the womb, and Mother Earth herself. Igneous rocks are heated in a fire pit outside the lodge, and then placed inside for the duration of the ceremony. Particpants enter from the left and move inside the lodge clockwise or sunwise, being sure to respect the natural movement of celestial bodies. Once everyone is inside, water is poured over the rocks to generate steam, and the sweat begins. Then everyone expresses their thoughts, hopes, feelings, and especially their gratitude for life and the abundance of the Earth throughout four different sweat rounds. After each round the door is opened to allow everyone a chance to cool down. In some rounds the focus is more on giving thanks, while in others the focus is more on singing or free expression. It is definitely a very powerful way to release toxins from the body, purge the mind, connect with each other, and reconfirm one's beliefs and purpose.

After the lodge is over everyone jumps in the icy waters of an adjacent creek, much like is done after a sauna or a steam. In this way it really does feel like emerging from a womb. You come out sweaty and disoriented, and then are plunged into a rather unfamiliar, uncomfortable place! It is quite amazing, however, how much the icey waters warm the body after a few moments. I enjoyed my dip so much, in fact, that I have made it a daily practice every since the lodge. I still haven't overcome the utter ridiculousness of observing myself break through the ice with a shovel and then choosing consciously, without anyone asking me or paying me, to completely submerge myself in the freezing cold water. And I still jump out of the water laughing hysterically, mumbling gibberish while stumbling through the snow wrapped in a towell. But I never do regret it! I just can't imagine a better way to wake up and embrace the elements as the sun is just beginning to peak over the mountains.

So anyhow, the sweat lodge is quite a great ritual, and will fortunately be performed every New and Full Moon. As far as other daily activities go, I have been waking up early for creek dips and stretching/various exercises. I generally fire up the wood stove as soon as I arise, throw on a kettle of water, and brew a pot of red clover, alfalfa, and mint tea. Then a nice breakfast of oats & apples, homemade sourdough and fruit preserves, squash pie, or perhaps the remnants of a hearty soup from the night before is enjoyed by one and all. Afterwards we do whatever work we can, such as feeding the animals, watering the greenhouses, or preparing meals. I am currently working on the restoration of an old wagon as a personal project. But as a group we are never short of things to enjoy in these slow winter months. Kosma and I have been playing lots of chess. I have been riding up into the mountains on the donkeys with Teague as much as I can. And we all enjoy playing music together, cooking and eating meals, and any other community-type events that bring us closer together. I have had plenty of time to read, send letters, and practice carving. I just finished my first spoon not two days ago! And I plan to learn as much I can of the drum making trade from Kosma, who learned to carve and cover drums during a trip to Guatemala. So many great things to learn and be a part of. The opportunities for growth are endless!

Just last week Kosma and I hiked upstream to do a little winter fishing. We weren't very sure we could hook anything in the February cold, but after about 3 minutes of light casting, and with only 1 worm, we caught three beautiful fish! Mine is the mighty 9 incher. We came out of the mountains with smiles on our faces and threw the fish right into the iron skillet with a little bit of olive oil. They sure were delicious, and we made sure to thank them for providing us with some much needed winter nourishment.

So Ryan and Felicja have already made their way back to Williams Island, and Kosma and Teague welcomed me to stay on the farm until my journies take me elsewhere. My plan right now is to stay here until at least May, at which time I hope to do a Permaculture Design Course in Bolinas, California. But I may perhaps extend my time in Las Trampas if I'm invited to do so. After all, I couldn't possibly ask for more here, being right on the border of the Pecos Wilderness, having plenty of delicious & nutritious food and amazing animals, and an energetic company of skilled, creative people with abundant love for everything they do. What a blessing it is to be grounded in New Mexico.

Love & Gratitude

About two weeks ago my wonderful mother gave me the the book, "The Hidden Messages in Water," by Masaru Emoto.

The basic premise of the book involves Japanese scientist Emoto's experiments with exposing water to certain external stimuli, such as music or pictures, freezing the water, and then photographing the resulting images. Emoto is always sure to take before and after photos, often times with some surprising results.

After years of research, Emoto believes very deeply that the fundamental structures of water can be and are indeed effected by anything from music, to vocalized & written words, to pictures, to thoughts--to really any sort of external influence or stimulus. Emoto has found that speaking words like "love and gratitude" with sincerity results in intricately formed crystals of astounding beauty, while saying things like "you fool" to water results in damaged, hazy crystals. Furthermore, Emoto writes emphatically about the necessity of expressing this love & gratitude to everything, especially human beings, as we are made up of 70% water ourselves. If unkind words forms damaged crystals in the fundamental structures of water, what could they do to our own cellular structures or psychological constitution?

It seems to me a very worthy question indeed. And an empowering one at that. Could simply feeling or thinking love and gratitude towards a glass of water improve its quality or vitality as one guzzles it down? If anything, one would surely enjoy every sip with that sort of awareness in mind during a glorious guzzling session.

One thing I've realized lately is this: if what Emoto says is true, how could I possibly integrate such a philosophy into my own life? After all, I have been drinking and cooking and swimming in water my whole life without much notion of the effect my own thoughts and feelings have whilst interacting with the liquid goodness that is H2O. So how could I create a lasting impression in my own state of being that actually shifts the way I interact with water or anything else on a day to day basis? Welp, Emoto assures the reader that it is becoming more and more possible everyday to carry out these water crystal experiments in a cost effective manner. And if I were the type to utilize micro-observational technology and all sorts of other scientific gizmos and gadgets, I might just give it a try. But this is not my way. Fortunately, Emoto supplies any even easier, more accessible, and possibly more poignant means of proving to oneself the impact of our own thoughts and feelings.

Emoto recommends taking a look up in the sky from time to time for a little cloud observation. But instead of simply appreciating the shapes and forms of these nomadic sky creatures, try a little experiment. Focus on a cloud, and really direct your attention at its shape and size, taking in all the details. Then, with all your imagination and and feeling, pretend that the cloud is slowly beginning to dissolve. It might be better to start with a small, loner cloud, and then work towards a massive cloud city. Anyhow, continue to focus on the cloud, imagining that it's slowly dissolving. Really focus your attention on it with deep concentration, but don't strain. Just enjoy the experience. After a little while, say or think something to the effect of "thank you for having dissolved," and continue to imagine that the cloud is dissipating. Keep this up until it melts away, and you have just provided yourself with an amazing first hand experience of the power that our own thoughts and feelings have on our reality. In this case, on clouds, which are very subtle amalgamations of H2O, no?

My brother Hunter and I were bouldering in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in El Dorado Springs, Colorado some two weeks ago. When we reached the top of the foothill we could see both Denver and Boulder, as well as the tiny town of El Dorado Springs. The sun was shining warm and bright, and the sky was almost completely clear but for a few clouds. We had both just finished Emoto's book, so we were curious to see if what is he said about the clouds was true. So we did just as Emoto said...

And what were our results, you may wonder? Well, I wouldn't be writing about a failed experiment(s), would I? If you find the find the idea hard to believe, I surely do not blame you. All we could do was look at each other & laugh in disbelief, both for the first cloud and the second cloud. Even looking back on it now seems more like a dream than something that actually happened in this world, in this reality of mine (& ours).

But don't take my word for it! Go on and give it a try! And bring a few friends along as well to multiply the effect. The more imagination the better, right? It might not even be a bad idea to read Emoto's book beforehand. In this way, one can be theoretically prepared for the experience. And if the experiment is successful, perhaps drinking a glass of water will never be the same again? I can say for myself that I much more inclined to feel love and gratitude for every sip I take. Mmmmmmm water.

Practical Intutition

An interesting happening, as of late.

Yesterday, after ransacking my uncle Michael's bookshelves a second time, looking for knowledge to consume, I came across a book called "Practical Intuition," by Laura Day. The book is all about connecting to your instinct, your inner voice, your cosmic Jiminy Cricket, if you will, and apply it in every day life. It looks like and essentially is a self-help book. Which I will admit I have a distaste for, though I'm not sure why. I'm all about helping myself. I'm my best friend, doctor, psychologist, interpreter, personal trainer, etc. If I need something done in my life, I'm the best person to do it, right? Welp, it makes sense to me at least. So why should I be so turned off by a self-help book? Really, this is immaterial to the posting. I'm simply relating my initial hesitation as a leafed through the paper-back pages.

One of the first exercises in the book was simply to answer the following associative questions immediately, without any thought or analysis. Here are the words and my associations:

1. A man's name: John
2. A woman's name: Karen
3. The name of an animal: Panda
4. The name of a river: Ganges
5. A location: Purgatory
6. A length of time: 10 days
7. A food: Avocado
8. A color: Green
9. A weapon: Machete
10. A cure or remedy: Herbal
11. A wish: Love
12. A fear: Darkness

After completing this exercise, I flipped the page and was told that I had just performed my first intuitive exercise, and the question I was intuiting for was "How will my life be different one year from now?"

"Great," I thought. "Purgatory, machetes, darkness... Can't wait for all these things to enter my life!"

So I continued reading a little while longer, and eventually got bored with the book. I felt ideas building up in me and I was becoming mentally congested, really psychologically heavy and weary. I knew that if I persisted with the book, there was going to be a headache, nap, or book burning. As I walked to put the book back on the shelf, a voice inside my cried: "Nooooo!"

"Quiet Jiminy," I responded, and put the book back in its proper place.

Later that evening I was on craigslist searching through the "rideshare" section of the Denver, Colorado page. I had already secured a ride to Sante Fe, NM with a very nice herbalist lady named Lisa, but we were scheduled to leave on Friday, and I was much too eager to wait that long. I came across a posting someone made about driving from Denver to Arizona, taking I-25 and then cutting across on I-40. "Perfect! Right through Santa Fe," I thought. So I called the number that was listed, and another very nice sounding lady answered. She asked me all sorts of questions about what I was doing, how long I had been farming, where I had gone to school, and so on. It was quite an interview, I must say.

In the middle of the conversation I began to wonder whether or not I should just stick with Lisa, the herbalist. Not that the mystery lady was annoying, or rude, or anything negative at all. I just had the doubt creep into my mind. In the end, we decided to leave either Wednesday night or Thursday early morning.

"Okay," I thought. "I'm sure it will be fine, I would like to leave early so this is the best option."

As we were saying our goodbyes, I realized that she hadn't even told me her name. "Oh, pardon me, what was your name again? I don't seem to remember you telling me..."

"Oh, I beg your pardon, Karen, my name is Karen." (see list above).

I immediately smacked my forehead, "Ah-hah!" After explaining the intuitive association exercise, we had a good laugh, followed by good feelings. I felt comfortable that I was making the right decision, and she seemed to resonate the same state of mind. She also mentioned that her father's name is John. Of course, I had just talked to my good friend Jon Lowell the day before, so I'm not sure about that one. But Karen? Could this merely have been a coincidence? I have no Karens in my life to speak of!

I guess it doesn't really matter one way or the other. Coincidence, intuition, what's the difference anyways? It seems that coincidence implies random chance, while intuition implies some sort of deeper connection or meaning. Of course, come to think of it, "coincidences" make me feel just as good as this experience did, which Mrs. Laura Day was telling me was my intution. So for all practical purposes, whether I am calling an experience the result of random chance or a deeper connection, the end is the same. Comfort, good feelings, & the perception that I'm making a sound decision.

Needless to say, I went back to the bookshelf and grabbed the self-help book. And Jiminy Cricket thanked me.